Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-24


dition. Werkle was on the point of going
into the room to investigate the matter,
when suddenly, quietly, and without
warning the door into the passage was
opened and half a dozen or more strange
figures crowded into the little apart
ment.
Strange they were, and appalling like
wise for every one of them was furnished
with a hideous black mask which com
pletely concealed his features. For the
rest, their attire was devoid of any not
iceable features but they were all armed,
and their demeanor showed that their re-
volvers were not intended for show mere
ly. All wore rubber shoes on their feet
to render their tread noiseless. The janitor
and his wife stared at them in voiceless
CONSERVATION, nor did the intruders speak
for a few moments.
But presently one among them pushed
his way to the front. He was trife
under the average height, but of broad
and massive build. His eyes sparkled
through the holes cut in his black mask.
He addressed the jantor, in a low but
peremptory voice, demanding the instant
production of the keys of the bank.
The unhappy jauitor tried to evade the
demand, and his wife emitted a futile
scream. Instantly the muzzes of the re-
volvers were planted against their heads
and they were sternly assured that the
slightest attempt to cry out or resist
would be punished by instant death. At
the same time two OF the masked men
bound and gagged Mrs. Werkle, and two
others went into the inner room to per-
form like Office for her mother 1t was
plain, from all their movements, that they
were perfectly familiar with all the jani-
tors domestic arrangements and habits
1t was plain, too, that they were in dead
ly earnest, and would put up with no
tritlug.
This was a situation to be faced by a
hero, but not by such person rs Louis
Werkle, and when the cold muzzle of the
revolver touched his temple he succumbed
, and indicated where the keys might be
found But he Ventured to observe that
the key would be of no avail without a
knowledge of the way the knob should be
, turned, which was something that could
not be impaired by description.
The leader replied CURLY that the turn
ing of the knob need give Mr.. Werkle no
uneasness, for that was detail which
had already been mastered but he added
that he must require the janitor to repeat
to him the combination. Upon Werkle's
protesting that he did not have it, he was
told that he was known to open the vault
with it every morning, and was further
reminded that delay or prevarication
meant death.
In a faltering voice the jantor gave the
three numbers of the combination.
The leader did not seem satisfied. He
made his victim repeat the numbers, and
more, as the lock was a four wheeled one,
Werkle assured him that he had gwen
him all their was, and the poor victim 5
obvious terror and CHASTITY apprehensiOns
were more convincing than any words
that he was telling the truth. The man
finally departed, therefore, after assuring
Werkle that his life depended on his hav-
ing given the numbers correctly, and di-
recting the two guards whom he left in
the room to kill the whole family at the
slightest symptoms of any attempt to
make a noise. The two guards, still
masked, gagged the janitor and hand
cufted him and then waited grim!y, with
their revolverS in their hands, for what
seemed to the victims an unfortunately
long time. In fact it was about two hours
and half, but during that period Werkle,
III addition to his physical discomfort,
which was not small, and the sight of the
black masks and the cleaning reyolvers,
which was not reasSuring, was given the
choice of but two subject of thought: the
first being that he might suffer violent
death at any moment, and the other that
in case he escaped, the bank, which it was
his duty to guard would have been rifled,
and he himself would be among the first
to be suspected of collision.
AT length, however, the long suspense,
which was perhaps the worst thing to
endure OF all, came to an end, and the
guards Withdrew, with a parting caution
OF very blocd-curdling kind. The
Werkle family were once more left to
themselves For several minutes they
were afraid to stir lest the terrible masked
gang should return but finally the jani-
tor succeeded in getting the sitting gag
out of his mouth, and then, with the
manacles still on his wrists, he made his
way down stairs and round to his friend
kohlman's shop, as we have already seen.
such was Werkle's story, as listened to
by kohlman and the unknown gentleman,
| 1rOnnp1 N hv UaC ~
IN itself, an altogether probable tale, and
the gentleman's countenauce when it had
been told, seemed to express rs much. A 3
{ Tor kohlman, he was too much bewil-
dered Ia have any opinion at all and he
accepted the gentlemzn's suggestion that
the police had better be sent tor with
alacrlty. 1t was desirable to make it clear
That, at all events, the barber had moth
ing to do with the affair or was IN any
way concerned to shield the janitor. IL
is all very well to be friendly with a man,
but when your friend falls under any sort
! OF suspicion the proper thing to do is to
leave him to his fate until the suspicion
is removed.
Animated by these prudent sentiments,
Mr.. kohlman left his shop and ran up the
steps, and, III the first place. cast a glance
through the bank window in the direction
OF the vault. Its massive doors were open,
and there were ominous signs of disor-
der within. This discovery stimulated
him TO Immediate action; and catching
sight of a policeman on the corner of the
street opposite. he signalled him with
i vigorous gestures to approach. The po-
liceman came, but when kohlman re-
, turned with him to the shop, Werkle WAS
there alone. The unknown gentleman
with emethyst ring and the watch chain
had evidently got tired of waiting to oe
shaved and had taken his departure.
On hearing Werkle's story, and seeing
the condition of the bank, the policeman
tonk the janitor into custody, and sent a
messenger to the police station which was
not far off. BY this time crowd had
begun to collect, and the quiet Sunday
! appearance of the locality underwent a
! complete transformation. Everybody was
, asking questions, which nobody was able
} to answer. The Italian peanut vendor
was doing roaring trade. and all was
? excitement and expectation. Presently,
; however, the measured treadH of men
, marching in step was heard drawing near,
and the tall figures of half a dozen off
GERS were seen coming down Bleecker
, latt, lv,t a Il -